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Original poster

To fill or not to fill - that is the question 🤔

26 replies

MargaritasAndFajitas · 24/02/2021 10:14

Hi,

I'm 36, with decent skin I suppose, but I have inherited the jowls ☹ and also, my nasal folds are now quite prominent and let's face it, they're only going to get worse.

I have fine lines on my forehead and a little under my eyes - they don't really bother me, but I can't ignore the sagging. I find it quite depressing actually.

I have heard that a bit of cheek filler could really help. Not to make my cheeks fuller, but to hoist everything up, thereby reducing the nasal folds and defining my jawline a bit more. Very tempted... but is this a slippery slope? Should I just get my head around the fact that I'm getting older and my face will inevitably show this?

Be good to hear your experience and wise words.

TIA

OP posts:
TH22 · 24/02/2021 10:22

You're 36 not 86!
Fill and Botox away. Not everyone who has cosmetic treatment ends up looking like the Bride of Wildenstein.
However, the key is to do your research. Then do some more. Then some more again. Ask for personal recommendations. The best person will be the person whose work can't be noticed if that makes sense.
Ps I'm 35 and had botox. Will never go back.

Original poster
MargaritasAndFajitas · 24/02/2021 11:17

@TH22, that's exactly what I want! Subtle as subtle can be. I don't want loads of upselling either. I.e, have you thought about having a bit of filler in your chin and temples to balance you out?

No thanks.

I just want to look fresher, less saggy, than I do now, but I don't want to look 'done' in any way.

OP posts:
TH22 · 24/02/2021 11:24

Where do you live?

JMAngel1 · 24/02/2021 11:42

Put 5 pounds on first and then see if you still need filler.

mistermagpie · 24/02/2021 11:48

I'm the same. I've lost and gained quite a lot of weight three times through pregnancy and am a runner so have that sort of 'runners face' that some people get. I'm 40.

When I turned 40 I got Botox in my number 11s and a couple of forehead lines, it's really subtle but has made a difference to how tired and old I look. I don't think it's a slippery slope because the first time I got it in crows feet as well but didn't like the effect so never got that again!

The dentist who does is has said I have options for the nose to mouth lines and sunken cheeks but we're talking fillers or a thread facelift thingy. Not sure I want that.

I don't know. Part of me feels we should age gracefully and all that, but another part feels like I don't want to look old and haggard at 40.

Putting weight on is an option (I'm quite slim) but I personally don't want to.

Original poster
MargaritasAndFajitas · 24/02/2021 12:21

Have PMed you @TH22

@JMAngel1, hmm I'm actually trying to lose a few pounds. I'm not overweight, but I'm that in-between weight, where I could get away with a stone on or off. I prefer off.

@mistermagpie, exactly. I'd love to just embrace the aging process and be happy in my own skin, but I'm getting increasingly paranoid and self conscious. If it genuinely helps me feel a little better about my appearance and it's not harmful, then is there really a problem?

Saying that, I do worry about the effects on the body. Is it really safe to absorb the product? I know it's just hyaluronic acid, but a concentrated amount.....I think.

OP posts:
mistermagpie · 24/02/2021 12:26

I know, I debated the safety of Botox but then just sort of said fuck it!

The thing is, I didn't want it to be noticeable. And it isn't, I know people will come on and say you can always tell but I promise you that you wouldn't be able to. I still have lines and my face still moves, everything has just softened. Even my husband says he wouldn't have noticed.

I do think fillers might be more obvious. In that your face shape changes a bit. It depends how you feel about that though.

It's seems ridiculous though, young girls are contouring their faces and I want to fatten mine up! We're never happy.

Gwenhwyfar · 24/02/2021 12:31

@JMAngel1

Put 5 pounds on first and then see if you still need filler.
She said the problem was jowls rather than gauntness though so I don't see how putting weight on would help. I can't see that jowls can be bad at 36 though and I wonder if OP's just being too critical.
Original poster
MargaritasAndFajitas · 24/02/2021 16:26

@mistermagpie, we're never happy. Nope.

I have tried to focus on things that I like about my appearance, rather than the things I don't, but I can't seem to stop myself automatically pulling my cheeks up, then seeing them drop back down and thinking.....urgh.

@Gwenhwyfar, possibly am a little. In some lights and at some angles it's not that bad, but when I catch myself in the wrong light or wrong angle, well....I'm thinking basset.

OP posts:
KatharinaRosalie · 24/02/2021 16:53

Fillers are amazing and will definitely lift your face back to where it was 5 years ago.

Anotheruser02 · 24/02/2021 19:10

I've researched this as I'm getting pre jowls, from what I've read the key to natural is having a very small amount of volume replaced in all of the fat pads over the face (an 8 point liquid face lift) we have fat pads all over our face look and we loose very small amounts of fat in all of the areas, the cumulative effect is enough spare skin to create jowls. It's (apparently) better to replace small amounts from where you actually lost it rather than replacing all of the lost volume to the one place, apparently that is how pillow cheeks happen.

Something I read which makes a lot of sense is if the physician doesn't ask you to bring a before picture then they are not the one for you, they should want to see where it has been lost from.

Yellowbowlbanana · 24/02/2021 19:15

I had fillers last year. I can tell but others can't. I will be booking another appointment for April!

Yellowbowlbanana · 24/02/2021 19:15

Mine were for jowls too!

Anotheruser02 · 24/02/2021 19:50

How long did they last yellow? was it early in the year?

Loopyloututu2 · 24/02/2021 21:50

God, I need this too. I can’t believe how “jowly” I’ve gone in this last year (I’m 40). I’m just so scared of it looking awful though.

silverfonze · 24/02/2021 22:17

I'm getting chin lipo dissolve for this reason . Think reducing double chin will help re portion face. It's £350 and told need 2 treatments

Yellowbowlbanana · 24/02/2021 22:55

**Anotheruser02""
Yes probably about a year ago. They are still there but I feel I would benefit from some more

SomethingbeginningL · 25/02/2021 06:36

You can absolutely have filler and stay looking natural. You just need to shop around to find the right practitioner.
It sounds like you need some cheek filler to replace volume loss and to directly inject the Nasolabials
A pp has mentioned the 8 point liquid face lift. The name is a bit of a gimmick, but she's right in that injecting filler in certain points in the face will give lift and look very natural.
Look at the practitioners previous work and stalk them on social media to get a sense of their vibe Smile

SomethingbeginningL · 25/02/2021 06:37

P.s not a slippery slope! But once you see great results, you are likely going to want to keep it up.
(So go to someone good!)

HappyKatieA · 25/02/2021 06:50

I'm really contemplating this too, I'm older at almost 49. For many years I looked young for my age, but the last three or four I have aged, become jowly.
But... how do you find someone? No one I know has filler / treatment.

GlamGiraffe · 25/02/2021 06:59

I dont think its a slippery slope. Its a feel good boost and if you can afford it, get it done by someone really good (i would only recommend an aesthetic doctor or cosmetic surgeon personally as it involves a considerable element of artistry not just measuring the doses out). Research has shown that the psychological benefits to having small smount of botox and or fillers are significant. I have had very small amounts if botox, not particularly regularly for years and find it makes an immense difference. As i don't want super smooth skin im happy for it to wear off before i top up too. Ive also had cheek fillers once so far, they were done excellently and have lasted thd best part of two years. People kept asking if i was on some new eating plan or something as i looked healthier or just that i looked so well. The friends i did tell were shocked as i know several that have (bad) fillers and they didnt think they were filled as they looked nothing like theirs.
My face was lifted quite a lot, its obviously not a miracle or facelft equivalent but does make a difference. Go to someone who only does faces and listen to their advice. If the ask how much you want they arent the right person. Cheeks might be enough, nasolabial folds can help too as long as they arent overfilled. Make sure the person who does it uses a cannula rather than a needle too.
Tattler produce a list (online) of the best people who do fillers around the country. I think anyone on their list over the past few years is probably good.

3rdNamechange · 25/02/2021 07:27

@GlamGiraffe I'm searching for someone to do mine.

littlepeas · 25/02/2021 07:48

I'm 38 and have reached a stage where I am considering botox, but it scares me - there are lots of very well off people, who could surely afford the best practitioners, walking around looking very obviously injected. The older you get there obvious it is, I guess, but I can immediately think of several celebrities of a similar age, who have had noticeable work done. I swing between thinking it is better to age naturally and thinking I should go for it. I reckon I'd choose a facelift over fillers - nobody seems to take this option anymore, but I think it looks better. Not at 36 though, obviously.

justanotherneighinparadise · 25/02/2021 07:54

I just get pissed off with having to commit to regular large outlays of money. So I’m living with my wrinkles and trying to help them with retinols/tret.

However if I had lots of money I’d definitely do all the shit the celebrities do. Why not! We have to live with our faces day in and day out, we may as well look in the mirror and feel as happy as we can.

justanotherneighinparadise · 25/02/2021 07:56

@GlamGiraffe

I dont think its a slippery slope. Its a feel good boost and if you can afford it, get it done by someone really good (i would only recommend an aesthetic doctor or cosmetic surgeon personally as it involves a considerable element of artistry not just measuring the doses out). Research has shown that the psychological benefits to having small smount of botox and or fillers are significant. I have had very small amounts if botox, not particularly regularly for years and find it makes an immense difference. As i don't want super smooth skin im happy for it to wear off before i top up too. Ive also had cheek fillers once so far, they were done excellently and have lasted thd best part of two years. People kept asking if i was on some new eating plan or something as i looked healthier or just that i looked so well. The friends i did tell were shocked as i know several that have (bad) fillers and they didnt think they were filled as they looked nothing like theirs. My face was lifted quite a lot, its obviously not a miracle or facelft equivalent but does make a difference. Go to someone who only does faces and listen to their advice. If the ask how much you want they arent the right person. Cheeks might be enough, nasolabial folds can help too as long as they arent overfilled. Make sure the person who does it uses a cannula rather than a needle too. Tattler produce a list (online) of the best people who do fillers around the country. I think anyone on their list over the past few years is probably good.
My further advice would be look at what they’ve done to their own faces. If the practitioner looks odd then they are unlikely to be someone who is going to make you look natural.